WTVA is being acquired by Gray Media in a $171 million deal where Allen Media Group is selling ten of its television stations to the broadcast giant.

The purchase of Northeast Mississippi’s top-rated television station enhances Gray’s portfolio of television stations in the state and across the South, many of which have a strong commitment to journalism. The acquisition gives the company a television station in every Mississippi TV media market except Greenwood-Greenville. Gray also owns TV stations in Birmingham, Memphis, Nashville and Huntsville. In addition, it recently created broadcast TV sports networks in the Nashville and New Orleans regions. 

The purchase of WTVA, which still needs federal approval, will end the five years of ownership by comedian and entrepreneur Byron Allen. That five years included job cuts and plans by his company earlier this year to replace the station’s local weather department with coverage from The Weather Channel. The plan was scrapped after a week of harsh public criticism.